Printing press



May 5', 1925.

' 1,536,093 H. W. HACKER PRINTING PRESS Filed Jan. 14, 1924 2Sheets-Sheet l y Zz' @6666 2252 May 5, 1925.

H. w. HAQKER PRINTING PRESS med Jan. 14. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedMay 5, 1925.

HORACE OFFICE.

W. I`IAC`I II1IILI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HGKER MANUFCTUR INGCO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,l A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PRINTING PRESS.

Application filed January 14, 1924, Serial No. 686,071.

fo all Lv/m t may concern: E y

Be it known that I, HORACE IV. HACKER, citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago,inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and E useful In'ipfrovement in Printing Presses,of which the following 1s a full, clear, concise,

CII

and exact description. v

My invention relates to printing presses employing cooperating printingmembers with which bearers are assembled that cooperate in the printingand with which `printing press members intermeshing gear elements areassembled to cause'the restoration of the printing press members tononprinting positions after the printing operation. i

The invention has for its object the provision of means whereby thegearelements are prevented from disturbing the cooperative relation ofthe bearers in the printing operation, whereby slurring is avoided. Thisdiificulty was due to the non-uniformity in the spacing of the sides ofthe gear teeth that have meshing engagement during the printingoperation, this non-uniformity obviously causing slippage between thefunctioning bearers with the attendant slurring. n

In carrying out my invention permit one of the gear elements to movewhenever any irregularity in the gear teeth spacing is encounteredduring the printing operation.

My invention has been of particular service in connection with pressesemploying flat beds and cooperating lprinting cylinders,

one such member of a'press being provided with a bearer that serves tooperate the complemental bearer and the printing press member coupledwith the latter. Mechanism is employed for bringing these bearers intoand out of cooperating relation. A spur gear may be coupled with thecylinder to be coaxial therewith and a coi'i'iplemental rack, in meshwith this gear, `may be carried by the bed. This rack is-desirablyformedin two sections, one substantially in fixed connection with the bed andinmesh during the non1 )rinting stroke preferably by being arrangedalong the nonprinting area of the bed, and the other being assembledwith the bed to be movable during the printing stroke preferably bybeing arranged along the printing area thereof. The listed mem ber ofthe rack serves to bring the members of the press into exactpredetermined relation at the commencement of the actual printingoperation. During the printing, the movable rack section permits thebearers to remain in firm and non-slipping engagement. After theprinting operation, the bearers are separated and the movable vracksection then functions tomove the bed in a nonprinting stroke, the fixedrack section completing the nonprinting stroke of the bed. When themovable rack section is out lof mesh with the gear upon the cylinder aspring or other means serves to move it in a normal intertoothedrelation with the fixed rack section, this spring `permitting themovement of the movable rack section during the printing stroke for thepurpose set forth.

The invention will be more fully eX- plained in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a side view, with parts brokenaway, illustrating a proof press equipped in accordance with myinvention, the bearers being in enga-gement preparatory to the printingoperation to ensue during the movement of the bed to the right asillustrated in this figure; Fig.

2 is a plan view of the bed portion of the press with parts broken away;F ig. 3 is an enlarged side view Online 3 3 of F ig. 2;

I" ig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating. the press at theconclusion of the printing stroke and with the bearers separatedpreparatory to the nonprinting stroke of the bed;and Fig. 5 is asectional View on line 5-5 of Fig.

Like parts are indicated by simila-rcharacters of reference throughoutthe different figures.v

In the press illustrated, one member is in the form of al cylinder 1 anda complemental member is in the form of a flat bed 2 ythough vit is tobe understood that. the invention is not to beI limited to anyparticular form o-f .press The fiat bed 2 may contain al printing formas illustrated at 3 in Figs. Q and 5.

`The cylinder l is provided with a pair of bearers 4;, one at each endof the cylinder. Complemental bearers are provided upon the `dat bed.Mechanism is en'iployed for bringing the bearers l into and out ofengagement with their complements In the proof press illustrated,4 thismechanism is operated by the hand crank 7 which is emn ployed to turnthe printing;` cylinder 1. As illustrated niost clearly in. Fig. 5, thecrank shatt- 8 carries a collar 9 fixed thereon. rlhis collar has atooth 9 which is ene'ageable with a tooth 10 ot the collar 10 loose uponthe shaft 8. The collar 10 has another tooth 102 which is engage-ablewith the tooth 11 upon the collar 11 loose upon the sha-ft. lhile thecrank is beingturned about three and one halt tiines in one direction.to print, or in the opposite direction to restore the printing press tononprinting;` positions, the collars 9, 10 and 11 are being` broughtinto relation to operate a4 crank 12 carried upon the collar 11. The.crank 12 is, during this interval, thus operated to swing;v the rockerarin 13 in one direction or the otheraccording tothe direction otinoveiuent et the crank 7. The rocker arin 13 is connected with anotherrocker arm 1l by means oit a link 15. A link 16 joins the rocker arin14n with the cranks 1T. Thus, when the arin 1.3 is inoved in the niannerdescribed, the arin 14 and the cranks 17 arek inoved siniultaneouslytherewith. Each ot the elements 13 and 17 is carried upon one of thethree shafts 18 individual thereto, each' shaft being; journaled itsends iu the bearings 19, as illustrated inost clearly in Fig. 5. Eachshatt 1S carries acylindrical eccentric 20 upon which a roller 21 isjournaled. The three rollers 21 carry the bed which has rail portionsbearing upon the annular flange portions 2B ot' the rollers. Then thecylinder is in thatportion o't its turningY movement which completes themovement ot the bed in its printine; direction. the. collars 9, 'ttl and11 cooperate to extend the crowns ort the eccent-rics horizontallywhereby the bed is lowered and the bearersare separated, Fig'. 1t. 1'henthe bed is in the tinal portion ot its nonprinting stroke, due to thereversed rotation ol the lininting cylinder, the collars 9, l0 and 11again cooperate. to adjust the eccentrics which arc consequently placedwith their crowns umierinost, to raise the bed vand engage the bearers.lhe hed and cylinder are geared together in order that the bed may bemoved` in a nonprintinpl direction and nia-y be adjusted to a Vfixedpoint at the eonunenceinent ot the printinel operation which is to beeffected by the cooperation ot'V the bearers. The gearing illustratedYtor this purpose includes a spur gear Q4: tixed upon and coaxial withthe printing' cylinder 1 and a rack assembled. with the bed andcomprising;y two aligned sections Q5 and Q6 placed along the bed andeach adapted to have meshing engagement with the spur `gear. The section26 is held in fixed relation with the bed by the bolts 27, this racksection 26 beinglocated `along the nonprinting area. of the bed. Thebolts 27 are screwed into the rack section Q5 and serve to holdthis racksection against the top acc ot the bed. The shanks ot the bolts 27 passthrough elongated openings 28 in the bed, whereby the rack section Q5 ispermitted to inove alongthe bed at the. printing area thereof. A pin 29is carried by the rack section and is in sliding engorgement with theadjacent; end ot the rack section 2o. gt coiled spring- 39 is housedwithin the rack section 2G and presses upon the pin 29 which has ashoulder engaging' the rack section whereby the spring` is enabled tomove the rack section 25 to bringY its teeth into proper intertoothedrelation with the teeth ot the rack section 26, the n'ioveinent etiectedbv the spring beingY limited by the abutment 2V. rllhis result occurswhen the rack scction 25 is n'ioved out ot: inesh with th(` gear 24; inthe nonprinting stroke.. rthe torni having been .inked by any suitableinl-ting); mechanism, such as that indicated at 31 in Fig. 1, the bed ismoved to the right in its printing stroke, the tired rack setlon 26establishing a predetermined relative position ot the bearers when thcrear 2t leaves the rack section 26 and enters into engagelnent with themovable rack section 25. Sonie slight sliding` movement ot' one set otbearers upon the other may `occur while the gear 2-1 is in inesh withthe rack section QG but inasmuch this rack portion is not coextensivewith any portion ot the prii 'ingr area, the slippage between the twosets ot bearers dui-ineY this port-ion o't the operation ot the presscauses no harurtul results. The fixed rack section in conjunction withthe spring ltl, establishes a de-tinite location tor the comniencen'ientot" the printing' operation, the spring` imsitioningr the rack section25 against the abutment 25. The two sets ot con'iplen'iental bearers,ybeing; now in engagement, cause the printing' operation to ensueirrespective ot the rack and gear, the rack section 25 moving asrequired to permit the bearers unen the cylinder to drive the bearersupon the bed without the aid or interference ot the rack and gear.Td'hen the bed is finishingits printing strolfe it is lowered, in amanner hitherto described, to break the printing` couple between the cvlinder and bed. then the bed has been thus loweredfthe now reverselyrotated e'ear 241 causes a return stroke ot the bed while the bearersare in separated relation. Dm'- ine the tinal portion otthis stroke, theprinting; bed is raised in the manner lescrilafl` preparatory to anotherprinting); operation.

lt is obvious that changes niajv be made without departing 'trom thespirit .it mi' invention.

lflavine' thus described my invention l claim as new and desire, tosecure b v Letters ldatent the 'following 1. ln a printing); press..with the printingcylinder the combination thereof; ot a reweonesciprocable flat bed cooperating with the cylinder in printing; bearersupon the cylinder and bed, one serving to operate the other and theprinting press member coupled withit,

in the 11n-inting operation; mechanism for bringing said bearers intoand out of cooperative relation; a gear coupled with the cylinder; arack in mesh with the gear and 'formed in two sections, one sectionbeing substantially in lixed connection with the bed and in meshduring'the nonprinting' stroke, and the other section being assembledwith the bed to be movable and in mesh duroperative relation; a gearcoupled with the cylinder; a rack in mesh with the gear and formed intwo sections, one section being' substantially in fixed connection withthe bed and in mesh during the nonprintingi` stroke, and the othersection being assembled with the bed to be movable and in mesh dur'- ingthe printing stroke; and automatic means Ytor restoring' the movablerack section into normal relation with its complement when out o't meshwith the gear.

3. In a` printing press, the combination with the printing cylinderthereof: of a reciprocable Hat bed cooperating with the cylinder inprinting; bearers upon the cyliinler and bed, one serving to operate theother and the print-ing press member coupled with it, inthe printingoperation mechanism for bringing' said bearers into and out otcooperative` relation; a gear coupled with the cylinder; a rack in meshwith the gear and itorn'ied in two sections, one section beingsubstantially in iixed connection with the bed and in meshduring thenonprinting` stroke, and the other section being' assembled with the bedto be movable and in mesh during' the printing' stroke; and means t'orrestoring' the movable rack section into normal relation with itscomplement when out oi" mesh with the gear.`

Lt. Vln a. printing press, the combination with the printing' cylinderthereof; o'l a reciprocable Hat bed cooperating with the eylinder inprinting; bearers upon the ycylinder and bed, one serving to operate theother and the printing press member coupled with it, in the printing'operation; a gear coupled with the cylinder; a rack in mesh with the`rear and formed in two sections, one section being substantially in`lined connection with the bed and in mesh duringgl the non` printing'stroke `and the other section being assembled with the bed to be movableand in mesh during' the print-ing' stroke; and a springbi"` forrestoring the nioif'able rack section into normal relation with itscomplement when out oit mesh with the gear.

5. In a printing' press, the con'ibination with the printingl cylinderthereo'l; of a recipro'cable itlat bed cooi'ierating with the cylinderin n'inting; bearers upon the ycylinder and bed, one serving' to operatethe other and the printing press member coupled with it, in the printingoperation; a gear coupled with the cylinder; a rack in. mesh with thegear and formed in two sections, one section being substantially in iiid connection with the bed and in mesh during the nonprinting stroke, andthe other section being a embled with the bed to be movable and in meshduring the printing stroke; and automatic means for restoring' themovable racl section into normal relation with its complement when outof mesh with the gear.

t3. In a printing' press, the combination with the printing' cylinderthereof; ot a reciprocable flat bed cooperating with the cylinder inprinting; bearers uponthe cylinder and bed, one serving to operate theother and the printing press member coupled with it, in the printing'operation; a gear coupled with the cylinder; a. rack in mesh with thegear and formed in two sections, one section being substantially inlined connection with the bed and in mesh durinp; the nonin'intingi'stroke, and the other section be: j 'as-senibleclv with the bed to bemovable and i mesh during the lin'intinp; stroke; and means ttorrestoring the movable rack section into normal relation with. itscomplement when out oi" mesh with the gear. i

'i'. In a printing press, the combination with one member there-ot' inthe t'orm ot a printing,` cylinder; ot ay second member inthe form ot areciprocable lat bed cooperating` with the cylinder in" printing;bearers upon thecylinder and bed, one serving` to opera-te the other andtheprinting press member coupled with it, in the printing` operation;n'iechanism. -for bringing said bearers into and out ot cooperativerelation; a gear' element coupled with one member; a complemental gearelement coupled with the other mem* bei' and in the Ytorni o'tf arack inmesh with the aforesaid Lrear element, one ot said gea/r elen'ientsbeing 'formed in two sections, one section being substantially in .tixedconnection with oneotI the aforesaid in'intiug press members and in mesh(hiringl the nonprint ing stroke, and the other section being assembledwith this printing press member to be movable and in mesh during theprinting' stroke; and a spring :for restoring the movableg'ear elementsection into normal relation with itscomplement when out of mesh.

S. In a printing press, the combination with one member thereof in theform of a printing cylinder; of a second member in the form of areciprocable flat bed cooperating with the cylinder in printing; bearersupon the cylinder and bed, one serving to operate the. other and theprinting press member coupled with it, in the printing operation;mechanism for bringing said bearers into and out of cooperativerelation; a gear element coupled with one member; a complemental gearelement coupled with the other element and in the form of a rack in meshwith the aforesaid gear element; one of said gear elements being formedin two seetions, one section being substantially in fixed connectionwith one of the aforesaid printing press members and in mesh during thenonprinting stroke7 and the other section being assembled with thisprinting press member to be movable and in mesh during the printingstroke; and automa-tic means for restoring the movable gear elementsection into normal relation with its complement when out of mesh.

9. In a printing press, the combination with one member thereof in theform of a printing cylinder; of a second member in the form of areciprocable fiat bed cooperating with the cylinder in printing; bearersupon` the cylinder and bed, one serving to operate the other and theprinting press member coupled with it; in the printing` operation;mechanism for bringing said bearers into and out of cooperativerelation; a gear element coupled with one member; a complemental gearelement coupled with the other member and in the form of a rack in meshwith the aforesaid gear element; one of said gear elements being formedin two sectionsfone section being substantially in fixed connection withone of the aforesaid printing press members and in mesh during thenonprinting stroke, and the other section being assembled with thisprinting press member to be movable and in mesh during the printingstroke; and means for restoring the movable gear element section intonormal relation with is complement when out of mesh.

10. In a printing press; the combination with one member thereof in theform of a printing cylinder; of a second member in the form of areciprocable fiat bed cooperating with the cylinder in printing; bearersupon the cylinder and bed; one serving to operate the other and theprinting press `member coupled with it in the printing ope ation; a gearelement coupled with one member; a con'iplemental gear element coupledwith the other member and in the form of a rack in mesh with theaforesaid gear element7 one of said gear elements being formed in twosections7 one section being substantially in .lined connection with oneof the aforesaid printing press members and in mesh during thenonprinting stroke, and the other section being assembled with thisprinting press member to be movable and in mesh during the printinglstroke; and a spring for restoring the movable gear element section intonormal relation with its complement when out of mesh.

ll. In a printing press; the combination with one member thereof in theform of a printing cylinder; of a second member in the form of areciprocable flat bed coo ierat'ing with the cylinder in printing;bearers upon the cylinder and bed, one serving to operate the other andthe printing press member coupled with it; in the printing operation; aoear element coupled with one member; a complen'iental gear element inthe form of a rack coupled with the other member and in mesh with theaforesaid gear element; one of said gear elements being formed in twosections; one section being substantially in fixed connection with oneof the aforesaid printing press members and in mesh during thenonprinting stroke, and

the other section being assembled with this printing press member to bemovable and in mesh during the printing stroke; and automatic means forrestoring the movable gear element section into normal relation with its'7 complement when out of mesh.

l2. In a printing press; the combination with one member thereof in theform of a printing cylinder; of a second member in the form of areciprocable flat bed cooperating with the cylinder in printing; bearersupon the cylinder and bed, one serving to operate the other and theprinting press member coupled with it; in the printing operation; a gearelement coupled with one member; a eomplemental gear element iu the formof a rack coupled with the other member and in mesh with the aforesaidgear element; one of said gear elements being formed in two sections;one section being substantially in fixed connection with one of theaforesaid printing press members and in mesh during the nonprintingstroke; and the other section being assembled with this printing pressmember to be movable and in mesh during the printing stroke; and meansfor restoring the movable gear ele,- ment section into normal relationwith its complement when out of mesh.

13. In a printing press, the con'ibination with two complemcntalprinting members thereof; of bearers upon said press mem bers, oneserving to operate the other and the printing press member coupled withit; in the printing operation; mechanism for bringing said bea ars intoand out of cooperative relation; a gear element coupled with one member;a complemental gear element coupled with the other member and in meshwith the aforesaid gear element; one

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assente oft said gear elements'being formed in two sections, one sectionbeing substantially`` in fixed connection with one` of the aforesaidprinting press members and in meshduring the nonprinting stroke, and theother section being assembled with this printing press member to bemovable and in mesh during the printing stroke; and a spring 'l'orrestoring the movable gear elenjient section into normal relation withits complement when out of mesh.

lll. In a printing press, the combination with two complemental printingmembers thereof; ot bearers upon said press members, one serving tooperate the other and the printing press member coupled with it, in t-heprinting operation; mechanism ior bringing said bearers into and out ofcooperative relation; a gear element coupled with one member; acomplemental gear ele-v ment coupled with the other member and in meshwith the aforesaid gear element, one of said gear elements being 'formedin two sections one section being substantially m fixed connection withone ol the aforesaid printing press members and in mesh duringtlienonprinting stroke, `and the other section being assembled with thisprintingr press member to be movable and in mesh during the printingstroke; and automatic means i'or restoring` the movable gear elementsect-ion into normal relation with its complement when out oi' mesh.

l5. In a printing press, the combination with two complemental printingmembers thereof; of bearers upon said press members, one serving tooperate the other and the printing press member coupled with it., in theprinting operation; mechanism for bringing said bearers into and out otcooperative relation; a gear element coupled with one member; acomplemental gear clement coupled with the other member and `in mesh`with the aforesaid gear element, one oi Said gear elements being`formed in two sections, one section being substantially lin tiredconnection with one ot the aforesaid printing press members and in meshduring` the nonprinting stroke, and theother section being assembledwith this printing press member to be movable and in mesh during theprinting stroke; and means for restoring the movable gear elementsection into normal relation with its complement when out ol mesh.

`IG. In a printing press, the combination with two eomplemental printingmembers thereof; of bearers upon said press members, one serving tooperate the other and the printing press member coupled with it in theprinting operation; a gear element coupled with one member: a.eomplemental gear element coupled with the other meinber and in meshwith the aforesaid gear element, one ot said gear elements being formedin two sections, one section` being substantially in lined connectionwith one of the aforesaid printing press members and in mesh during thenonprinting stroke, andthe other section being assembled with thisprinting" press member to be movable and in mesh during the printingstroke; and a spring for restoring the movable gear element section intonormal relation with its complement when out ot mesh.

17. In a printing press, the combination with two complemental printingmembers thereof, ot bearers upon said press members, one serving tooperate the other and the printing press member coupled with it, in theprinting operation; a gear element eoupled with one member; acomplemental gear element coupled with the other member and in mesh withthe laforesaid gear element, one of saidgear elements being :formed intwo sections, one section being substantially in .lined connection withone of the aforon said printing press members and in mesh during thenonprinting stroke, and the other section being assembled with thisprinting press member to be movable and in mesh during the printingstroke; and automatic means for restoring the movable gear elementsection into normal relation with its con'iplement when out ot mesh.

18. In a printing press, the combination with two eomplemental printingmembers thereof; o' bearers upon said press members, one serving tooperate the other and the printing press member coupled with it, in theprinting operation; a gear element coupled with one member; acomplemental gear element coupled with the other member and in mesh withthe attore;l

said gear element, one ol said gearelements being' formed in twosections, one section being substantially in fixed connection with oneof the aforesaid printing press members and in mesh during thenonprinting stroke, and the other section being assem- `bled with thisprinting press member to be movable and in mesh during the printingstroke; and means ior restoring the mmable gear element section intonormal relation with its complement when out of mesh.

19. In a printing press, the combination with two complemental printingmembers thereof; of bearers upon said press memmental gear 'elementcoupled with the other 10 member and in mesh with the aforesaid gearelement during the printing' stroke and movable While in mesh.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th clay ofJanuary, A. I). 15

HORACE IV. HACKER.

